Coating apparatus



Oct. 18, 1938. w.\c. Hur-:BNER l i COMING APPARATUS original Fild sept. 22, 193e 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INvE'N-rnn WLM TTCIRNEY Oct. 18, l938. w. c. HUEBNER 2,133,517

COTING APPARATUS original Filed sept. 22; 193e s sheets-sheet 2 ATTGHNEY oct.' 1s, '1938. w. C. HUEBNER 2,133,517'

COATING APPARATUS- j Original Filed Sept. 22, 1936 3 She al's-Sh?e.' I 3 fw TTDRNEY vlarged scale,

20 for the purpose I casting 26 extending o ard 21, said standard being itented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES B'l' AVAIIBLE @SPY PATENT OFFICE Renewed 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in coatig apparatus and, more particularly, apparatus Jr coating cylinders such as rotagravure cyliders and inking cylinders with coatings, emullons and inks.

One object of the invention is to provide an mcient apparatus for depositing liquid coatings `f widely variable characteristics, uniformly on he surfaces of relatively large cylinders.

Another objectl of the invention is to provide n apparatus for applying liquid coatings to the ,urfaces ofcylinders in the form of lthin sheets r layers of desired width corresponding to the engths of the cylinders and of' an adjustable y,hickness dependent upon the nature and consistency of the coatingmaterial and its intended More specific objects of the invention are to provide a coatingapparatus of the character lndicated in the preceding paragraphLs wherein provision is made for accelerating the drying or setting of the applied coating; for maintaining the coating material at the desired temperature and consistency for proper and rapid application; and for applying pressure to the coating material during the application thereof to the cylinder surfaces in those instances where the coating material is of a thick and more or less semiplastlc nature.'

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. l y

In the drawings forming a part of this specificatin, Figure l isa front elevational view of a machine or apparatus having the improvements incorporated therein. Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view, vupon a somewhat enz-x of Figure l, parts vsurface of the cylinder D. Various other features of the invention are described in detail hereinafter.

The base A will preferably be built up of channels having mounted thereon along each side thereof, tracks 24, which overhang the channels hereinafter described.

The carriage B preferably includes a bottom the full length thereof and with 'which is rigidly or flxedly associated at one end thereof, a vertically extending heavy standat the right hand end,

corresponding to' the section line l beingbroken away at the` `bottom to better accommodate the view onY the August. 13, 1938 as viewed in Figure 1. Slidably mounted on said bottom casting 26 at the opposite end thereof, is a second vertically extending standard 26. A plurality of combined bracings and guide rods 29-29, preferably four in number, as best shown in Figure 2, are employed, ythe same being rigidly connected at their right hand ends, as viewed in Figure 1, to the standard 21 and slidablyggconnected, at their opposite ends, withthe standard 28 and adapted to be'locked or secured in adjusted position with reference to the standard 28 by set screws 59 threaded into the standard 28 in line with the rods 29. By this construction, it will be evident that the carriage B is adjustable as to length to thereby accommodate cylinders D Yof varying length.

To provide for reciprocatory movement of the carriage B, the latter is supported on the tracks 24 by a pluralitywof antifriction rollers 6I and, to

prevent upward tilting or displacement of the carriage B, additional anti-friction rollers 82 are provided, the latter being carried by the brackets securedto the base casting 26 and the rollers being disposed beneath the overhanging I portions of the tracks 24. Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the carriage B as by the motor 33 mounted on a cross plate 23 in the base A, said motor, through suitable worm gearing, driving a disk 38 having radially adjustably connected thereto, a pitman 4| which in turn is pivotally connected as indicated at 32 to the bottom casting 26 of the carriage. struction broadly indicated, it is evident that a 'rapid reciprocatory movement of desired length of stroke may be imparted to the carriage B. The parts of the base carriage and reciprocatory drive, so far referred to, are or may be the same as those described in my copending application, Serial Number 99,447, filed Sept. 4, 1936, for improvement in Coating machines, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description.

As ypreviously indicated,y the standard 28 is adjustable toward and from the standard 2`| to With the COnaccommodate cylinders of different length and the means for effecting such adjustment preferably consist of racks 44 provided along the under sides of the rods 29 and with which racks cof 45-45 carried on transversely' operate pinions extending shafts shown in Figure 2, is handle 41 and, to insure vrotation of all of the pinionsv 45, the shafts 46 have secured thereto sprocket gears 48 over which extends a sprocket chain 49. The carriage length adjusting means just described are similar to those disclosed in my said copending application to which reference may be had for a more detailed description.

Tov rotatably support its trunnions 68, the carriage B has vertically 46-46. The upper shaft 46. as provided with a crank simultaneous and equal the cylinder D through' slidably mounted on the outer side of each of the standards 21 and 28 thereof, a cross head 56, vertical adjustment being effected through nuts 51 on the cross headwith which cooperate adjusting screws 58. 'I'he screws 58 are swivelled in brackets 59 secured to the standards and are adapted to be simultaneously actuated through helical gears 60-carried by a longitudinally extending shaft 63, all as more particularly described in my said copending application. The cross heads 56, at their upper ends, are provided with pairs of heavy anti-friction rollers 61 which provide two rolling/points of supports for each of the trunnions 68 as will be understood.

Rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder D from a motor 81 vertically adjustably mounted on an extension bracket |56 carried by the left hand cross head 51, as viewed in Figure 1. 'Ihe shaft of the motor 81 carries a V-pulley with which cooperates a V-belt 89, the latter taking over a, V pulley 90 adapted to be temporarily rigidly secured to the adjacent trunnion 68 of the cylinder by any suitable means such as an expandible mandrel such as shown and described in my said copending application.

From the preceding description, considered in connection with the more detailed disclosure of my copending application, Serial No. 99,447, it will be apparent that the be given a reciprocatory movement carrying the cylinder D.therewith and also rotary movement imparted to the cylinder D either simultaneously or alternately as conditions may require, dependent upon the nature of the coating to be applied to the cylinder.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3 and the tank or'containerC. The carriage B, at its upper end, is provided with horizontally extending' heavy tracks |20, each secured to the standards 21 and 28, respectively, and slidably mounted on said tracks', toward and from the cylinder D, are4 castings |2| which support the tank or container proper C. Horizontal adjustment is effected through racks |22 secured to the inner sides of the tracks |20 and 'pinions |23 carried by a shaft |24 journaled at its ends in the castings |2|. to be operated by a crank arm |25.

'I'he tank C'is of special construction, having vertical end walls |26 |26, a diagonally extending partition |21 and fixed bottom wall |28, said end and bottom walls and partition |21 being rigidly united. 'I'he front wall of the material containing chamber |29, is formed by a vertically adjustable slide |30 mounted in the guides |3| formed in the end walls |26, as shown in Figure 3.

Disposed above the partition 21 and held in spaced relation with respect thereto by spacer blocks |32 is a second inclined partition |33 `forming. the true bottom of the chamber |29.

.by the arrow a. As will Said partition |33 has its lower end extended downwardly toward the cylinder surface with a beveled edge |34 which normally will be placed closely adjacent the surface of the cylinder so as to effect delivery of the coating material in a thin sheet, as indicated at |35, onto the surface of the cylinder rotated in the direction indicated be apparentI from Figure 2, the coating material is delivered or de- DOslted upon the cylinder surface in a line above i a horizontal plane passing through the axis of is obtained by adjusting the front wall |30 of ing the cylinder. 'Ihe desired thickness of the sheet of coating material as delivered from the tank C 21 and 28 entire carriage B may Said shaft |24 is adapted' the tank, the latter having a lower beveled ed |36 parallel to the partition |33.

Adjustment of the front wall |30 of the tai is effected through the following means. Sa Wall |30isnprovided with an outer spaced w1 |31 held in spaced relation by spacer-blocks to provide a liquid chamber |39 for the pu pose hereinafter described. Secured to said fro: Wall |31, 'at each end thereof, and on the out side, are vertical racks |40 with which coopera pinions |4||4| carried by a horizontallyy e: tending shaft |42 journaled in brackets |43|1 in turn rigidly mounted on the end walls Ii of the tank. At one end thereof, the shaft I4 carries a worm gear |44 with which cooperati a worm |45 carried by a vertically disposed sha: |46 journaled in an extension |41 of the bracki |43, said shaft |46 being provided with a cran arm |48 at the top thereof. As will be apparen the valve control front wall |30 can be delicate] adjusted through the worm bearing described an its adjusted position maintained by reason of th worm gearing.

As will be evident from inspection of Figur 2, the double inclined bottom of the chambe |29 provides a second liquid containing chambe |49 and communication is established betweei said chamber |49 and the front liquid chambe. |39 by means of pipe connections |50 and |5| the latter having a flexible unit therein such as z section of hose to accommodate the adjustmen4 of the front wall |30.

Beneath the inclined partition 21 is former` a heating chamber |52 in which may be disposed any suitable heating means such as the electric heaters |53 indicated conventionally in Figure 2, and supplied with current through the cable |54. The chamber 52 is normally closed `but rendered acessible by means of a back wall |55 in the form of a door hingedly supported at |51 and adapted to`be latched at its lower edge by the latch |58.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the coating solution within the chamber |29 may be maintainedat the properl temperature and consistency, dependent upon the nature of the coating, by the heat derived from the heating element |53 and the liquid, such as water, maintained in the two intercmmunicating charn-` bers |39 and |49. To facilitate maintaining the coating solution at the desired temperature, a thermometer, as indicated at |59, may be einployed, the same being mounted in the cover |60 by means of any suitable sealing gasket such as indicated at |6|. The cover is held down se- -curely by any suitable means as by the hinged clamping brackets |62 and screws |63 carried thereby. Air pressure is supplied from any suitable outside source as through the pipe |64 entered through the cover and the desired pressure indicated through the pressure gage |65 also carried by the cover |60.

In order to control the rate of setting or dryof the coating applied to the cylinder, the i llowing arrangement is employed. Detach- )ly supported on the upper pair of bracing rods l and one of the lower rods 29 is a box-like fainage tank comprising end walls |66, vertical ick wall |61 and inclined bottom wall |68, all gidly united. 'Ihe end walls are preferably xrther united and rigidiiled by longitudinallyv :tending tie rods |68.

The drainage tank is further provided with a ont removable inclined bottom wall |10 mounti in suitable grooves |1| formed in the end 'alls |66. The front bottomwall |10 will be so ositioned that its lower edge |1| will be held paced slightly from the oppositely inclined botm wall |68 so as to allow drainage or discharge f surplus material which is ultimately delivered rom the bottom lip |12 into a V-shaped trough 13 detachably mounted on the standards 21 and 8 by any suitable means such as the hook and lot arrangement indicated at |14. The trough 14 is provided with a drain pipe |15 to conduct he discharge to the sewer or the like.

The drainage tank is further provided with a ront narrow rail |16 to which is hingedly coniected a door closure |11 which, when in closed osition, engages with the upper edge of the ront bottom wall |10.

To further enclose the cylinder and complete he drying chamber therefor, a box-like hood |18 s detachably mounted on the top of the drain- Lge tank, as clearly shown in Figure 2. As will )e understood, said hood |18 will be of sufficient ength to overlie the ends` of the tank C and irovide a practically sealed closure for the cylnder except only for a sufficient opening to re- :eive the lower extended edge of the inclined partition |33 of the tank. In Figure 2, parts of :he hood are broken away, as indicated at|19, merely in order to better illustrate details of :onstruction of the tank C. e

Carried in the front wall of the hood |18 is an exhaust fan |80 to produce a forced circulation of air through the heating and drying chamber, lt being understood that the amount of air is primarily regulated by the size of the slot opening left between the walls |10 and |68 of the drainage tank. As will be understood, this slot opening may be varied in size either by providing for an adjustment of the bottom wall |10 or by having interchangeable walls |10 of different width;

When 1t is desired to accelerate the drying or setting action by application of heat, the removable bottom wall |10 may be replaced by another similar bottom wall having on its upper side thereof, electric heating elements such as shown at |8| adapted to be supplied through the plug |82. Preferably, the heating elements will be enclosed within a grill |83 so as to better diffuse the heat. A thermometer |84 extended through the hood |18 is preferably employed to facilitate regulation of the temperature within the heating and drying chamber.

In actual practice, the coating material is delivered from the container C onto the surface of the cylinder D while thelatter is rotating in the direction of the arrow a. As hereinbefore described, the discharge orice for the coating material will be adjusted in accordance with the characteristicsl of the particular coating material which is being used. In some'instances, the

coating material will be allowed to ilow slowly under the influence of gravity but in other instances, where the material is relatively thick,

the container C will be sealed and air pressure applied so as tosupplement the gravity action and force the coating material through the orifice under increased pressure. In some cases, particularly where the coating material is relatively thin and quite iiuid, the entire carriage B on which is supported the container C, will be given a reciprocatory motion from the motor drive 38, 4|, 42, in order to prevent the formation of beads or bells of the coating material as the latter is rotated and which would thereby result in an uneven coating. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the use of heat in connection with the coating material in thecontainer C and the use of heat and the exhaust fan in connection with the rotating cylinder, will depend entirely upon the characteristics of the coating material being used, and the speed of drying or setting desired. In otherfwords, the apparatus is designed for a wide range of use with provision for taking care of the many variables encountered in practical use.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that means are provided for not only accurately controlling the application of the coating material to the cylinder, but also to control the rate of drying or setting thereof after application, thus permitting the use of the apparatus for application of coating materials of widely different characteristics.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the tank C, drainage tank and associated hood are all readiiy removable from the apparatusto facilitate insertion and removal of the cylinders and also to permit of interchange where cylinders of different length are being coated.

Although there has herein been shown and described what is 'now considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative and not by way of limitation, all changes and modifications being contemplated that come Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a base; of a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on the base; means for reciprocating the carriage on the base; means on the carriage for supporting and rotating a cylinder about a horizontal axis; a material container.` mounted on the carriage and disposed adjacent the cylinder, said container having a discharge slot orifice extending lengthwise thereof parallel to the cylinder axis; means for applying air pressure to material within the container; and heating means for the material within the container.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a base; of a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on the base; means for reciprocating the carriage; means on the carriage for supporting and rotating a cylinder about a horizontal axis; a material container also mounted on the carriage; adjustable means for controlling the discharge of material from the container to f a cylinder surface; a housing structure substantially enclosing the cylinder, said housing, structure being detachably mounted on the carriage and including a drainage tank and a hood; and means on said housing structure for controlling the rate of drying or setting of material deposited on the cylinder surface.

' WILLIAM C. HUEBNER. 

